Reused Stadium Seat Shell with Counterweight Frame

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stadium seating shells, once heavily used, become waste due to their fixed nature and high replacement frequency, contributing to significant garbage issues.

Innovation Solution

A chair design featuring a reused seat shell connected to a sturdy stool frame with an assembly plate and legs, where the assembly plate is connected to the seat shell via second connecting elements and to the stool legs via first connecting elements, ensuring the seat shell's mass is distributed to prevent tipping and facilitate safe use while allowing for easy disassembly and reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If seat shells are permanently mounted on fixed structures in stadiums, then reliable seating is guaranteed and tipping over is prevented, but the seat shells become immobile and subject to heavy wear requiring regular replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseating reliabilityVSAvoidseat shell mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the seating system into separate components: the seat shell is detached from the fixed stadium structure and reconfigured as part of a mobile chair assembly with its own frame and legs. This segmentation allows the seat shell to transition from a permanently fixed state to a mobile, reusable state while maintaining seating reliability through proper structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transforms the static, immobile seat shell into a dynamic, mobile chair by adding a frame with legs that can be positioned and stabilized on various surfaces. The chair design allows the seat shell to be moved and repositioned while maintaining stability through the center of gravity design and connecting elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If seat shells are permanently fixed to heavy structures, then stable seating is ensured, but significant waste is generated when replacement is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseating stabilityVSAvoidwaste from replaced seat shells
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables recovery and reuse of seat shells that would otherwise be discarded. By designing a mobile chair system where the seat shell can be detached from fixed structures and reconfigured with a new frame, the seat shell is recovered and given a second life, significantly reducing waste from stadium seating replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the seat shell from permanent fixed installation to mobile reusable configuration. This parameter change allows the same seat shell to serve multiple locations and uses, extending its service life and reducing the need for replacement and associated waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If a mobile chair design is created using a reused seat shell, then waste is reduced through reuse, but the chair must be designed to ensure safe use and prevent tipping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste reductionVSAvoidchair frame structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses the mounting plate as a counterweight element positioned below the seat shell to lower the center of gravity of the chair assembly. This counterweight design prevents tipping and ensures stability, allowing the mobile chair to safely support users while maintaining simplicity in the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention addresses stability by transitioning from two-dimensional seat shell design to three-dimensional chair structure with vertical positioning of the center of gravity. The mounting plate extends below the seat shell crease, creating a lower center of gravity that prevents tipping, adding a vertical dimension to the stability solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4140362B1Chair comprising a recycled seat shell and a chair frame connected to the seat shell
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 STADICHAIR GMBH CO KG
  • EP4140362B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4140362B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4140362B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

Chair comprising a reused seat shell and a chair frame connected to the seat shell, wherein the chair frame comprises a mounting plate and four chair legs, wherein the mounting plate is connected to the chair legs via first connecting elements and wherein the mounting plate is connected to the seat shell via second connecting elements, wherein the center of gravity of the chair is located within an area bounded by the mounting plate and the chair legs.